The Mental Health Technician (MHT) is responsible for providing direct patient care, supervision, safety monitoring, and therapeutic support to individuals receiving treatment for mental health and substance use disorders in Residential, PHP, and IOP settings. The MHT works collaboratively with the interdisciplinary treatment team to promote a safe, structured, and recovery-oriented environment while maintaining compliance with Joint Commission (JC), Florida Agency for Health Care Administration (AHCA), HIPAA, and organizational standards.
The MHT is responsible for maintaining patient safety, supporting treatment programming, assisting patients with daily living activities, documenting patient behaviors, responding appropriately to behavioral crises, and utilizing approved de-escalation techniques to reduce risk while preserving patient dignity.
Essential Duties and Responsibilities
Patient Care & Supervision
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Provide direct supervision and observation of patients in Residential, PHP, and IOP programs.
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Maintain a safe, therapeutic, and recovery-focused environment.
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Monitor patient behavior and emotional well-being throughout each shift.
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Conduct and document routine patient safety checks in accordance with physician orders and facility policies.
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Assist patients with activities of daily living (ADLs) when appropriate.
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Monitor patient participation in treatment activities and therapeutic groups.
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Assist patients with orientation to the program and facility expectations.
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Encourage appropriate social interaction and healthy coping skills.
Crisis Intervention & De-escalation
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Utilize approved verbal de-escalation techniques to safely manage patients experiencing behavioral or emotional crises.
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Respond appropriately to psychiatric emergencies and behavioral incidents.
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Implement Crisis Prevention Intervention (CPI) or other approved behavioral management techniques consistent with organizational policy.
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Recognize early warning signs of agitation, aggression, self-harm, suicidal ideation, or escalating behaviors.
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Assist licensed clinical staff during crisis interventions.
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Maintain patient dignity and utilize the least restrictive interventions possible.
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Participate in post-incident debriefings and complete required incident documentation.
Residential Operations
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Perform routine environmental safety rounds.
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Ensure patient rooms and common areas remain safe, clean, and free of hazards.
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Monitor patient compliance with facility rules and schedules.
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Conduct room searches, belonging inventories, and contraband checks in accordance with company policy.
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Assist with meal supervision and medication line monitoring (without administering medications unless otherwise authorized).
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Support recreational and therapeutic activities.
Treatment Team Collaboration
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Work collaboratively with:
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Therapists
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Case Managers
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PMHNPs
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Nursing Staff
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Admissions
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Medical Director
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Clinical Supervisors
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Residential Leadership
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Participate in shift reports and treatment team meetings as assigned.
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Communicate significant patient observations to licensed clinical staff promptly.
Documentation
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Complete accurate and timely behavioral observations.
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Document patient interactions in the Electronic Medical Record (EMR), KIPU preffered.
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Complete safety check logs, shift reports, transportation logs (if applicable), incident reports, and other required documentation.
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Ensure documentation complies with Joint Commission, AHCA, and organizational standards.
Transportation (if assigned)
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Safely transport patients to appointments, meetings, recovery activities, and approved outings.
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Maintain a valid driver's license and acceptable Motor Vehicle Record (MVR).
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Perform vehicle safety inspections before transporting patients.
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Ensure compliance with transportation policies and patient safety procedures.
Compliance & Safety
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Maintain compliance with:
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Joint Commission Behavioral Health Standards
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Florida AHCA regulations
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HIPAA
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OSHA
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Infection Prevention standards
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Patient Rights regulations
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Company policies and procedures
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Participate in emergency preparedness drills.
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Maintain awareness of patient rights and confidentiality requirements.
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Immediately report safety concerns, abuse allegations, neglect, exploitation, medication variances, and unusual occurrences.
Education Requirements
Required
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High School Diploma or GED
Preferred
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Associate's Degree in:
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Psychology
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Human Services
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Social Work
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Criminal Justice
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Behavioral Health
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Nursing
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Related Healthcare Field
Experience Requirements
Required
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Minimum one (1) year of experience working in one or more of the following:
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Behavioral Health
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Mental Health
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Substance Use Disorder Treatment
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Residential Treatment
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Psychiatric Hospital
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Crisis Stabilization Unit
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Detoxification Program
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Healthcare Facility
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Social Services
Preferred
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Experience in Joint Commission-accredited facilities.
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Experience in AHCA-licensed behavioral health facilities.
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Experience working with individuals diagnosed with co-occurring mental health and substance use disorders.
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Experience documenting in Electronic Medical Records (EMR), preferably behavioral health platforms such as Kipu.
Required Licensure & Certifications
Required Upon Hire (or within organizational timeframes)
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Current CPR/BLS Certification (or obtain within 30 days)
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Crisis Prevention Institute (CPI) Certification or equivalent approved de-escalation and behavioral intervention training (or obtain within 30 days)
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Successful Florida Level II Background Screening as required by AHCA
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Drug Screening
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Valid Florida Driver License (if transporting patients)
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Acceptable Motor Vehicle Record (MVR) if driving company or personal vehicles for work purposes
Preferred Certifications
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Certified Behavioral Health Technician (CBHT)
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Certified Recovery Peer Specialist (CRPS)
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Registered Behavior Technician (RBT) (if applicable)
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Mental Health First Aid Certification
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Trauma-Informed Care Certification
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Suicide Prevention (QPR, ASIST, or equivalent)
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Certified Addiction Professional (CAP) (preferred but not required)
Knowledge, Skills & Abilities
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Knowledge of behavioral health and substance use disorders.
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Knowledge of trauma-informed care principles.
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Strong verbal de-escalation and crisis intervention skills.
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Ability to identify and respond to behavioral emergencies.
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Knowledge of patient rights and confidentiality.
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Understanding of infection prevention and control practices.
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Strong observation and documentation skills.
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Ability to work effectively within a multidisciplinary treatment team.
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Excellent interpersonal, communication, and conflict-resolution skills.
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Proficiency with EMR systems and Microsoft Office applications.
